Courses

College of Law

Federal Courts

Course Number: 6680
Professor: Jason A. Robison
Credit Hours & Type of Credit: 3
Semester Offered: Spring
Required: No
Prerequisites: Students must have completed their first year of law school.
Recommended Courses: Civil Procedures I & II and Constitutional Law I & II

Course Overview: Every exercise of federal judicial power places federal courts in potential conflict with other governmental actors.  On one hand, federal courts might intrude upon Congress’s constitutional lawmaking powers; on the other hand, they might usurp a function that could be performed by state courts. This course examines these foundational principles of separation of powers and federalism by scrutinizing federal court jurisdiction.  It generally examines justiciability doctrines (advisory opinions, standing, ripeness, mootness, political questions), congressional control of federal court jurisdiction, federal question jurisdiction, federal common law, state sovereignty under the Eleventh Amendment, and U.S. Supreme Court review of state court decisions.

Course Materials: See the current Book List located under Scheduling.
Course Format: Lecture and class discussion
Written Assignments: n/a
Type of Exam: Open-book, free-slot final exam and open-book, multiple-choice midterm quiz.
Basis for Grading Student Performance: Exam, quiz and class participation.
Other Comments: